Keep Our Elections Safe from Religious Right Intrusion

I know we’ve already contacted you several times this year about protecting the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits houses of worship and other non-profit organizations from participating in campaign politics while maintaining tax exempt status. But a new provision added in to a tax bill in the U.S. Congress means we need your help once again to protect the separation of church and state and the transparency of our elections system.

A provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would allow tax-exempt houses of worship to endorse one or more candidates in all of its statements, presentations, and teachings made during “religious services or gatherings.” Effectively, houses of worship would become partisan campaign organizations which would enjoy a preferential tax status not afforded to other political organizations.